Rainfall deficiencies persist along east coast & in parts of inland
southeastern Australia

The Bureau of Meteorology announced today that, for the period since
the start of April, severe
rainfall deficiencies
remain along the east coast and adjacent ranges following another month
with falls generally below the long-term average. In addition, rainfall
deficiencies for the year to date persist across some inland areas of
southeastern Australia, although the situation did ease a little in
comparison with conditions at the end of July.

5-month rainfall deficiencies

For the 5-month period from April to August,
severe rainfall deficiencies are evident along the east coast and Great
Dividing Range from Proserpine on Queensland’s central coast, to Bega
in southern NSW. In addition, generally severe deficits
extend over much of the central highlands in Queensland, encompassing
locations such as Clermont and Emerald. Average to above average August
rainfall in southern WA, reduced the areas affected there to a small
patch near the coast to the northeast of Albany.

8-month rainfall deficiencies

For the 8-month period from January to
August, serious to severe rainfall deficiencies affect parts of
southern NSW, the ACT and northern Victoria, together with the central
Queensland region between Rockhampton and Proserpine. Many of these
areas overlap with those affected by 5-month deficiencies, the main
exceptions being parts of the Riverina and Lower Western in NSW, and
north-central Victoria. Both Sydney and Canberra had their wettest
month for the year in August, but Sydney’s year-to-date total is still
about 350 mm below average! At Canberra Airport, the total since the 1st
of January stands at 173 mm, which is just 44% of the long-term average
but still well above the record low of 112 mm set in 1965.